Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms in People With Osteoporosis Referred to the Bone Densitometry Center of a Hospital in Kashan

Background and Objectives: Osteoporosis is a chronic disease characterized by decreased bone density and increased risk of bone fractures. Osteoporosis can affect the quality of life and lead to depression by causing bone fractures and associated complications such as reduced physical activity, weight gain, and reduced self-care. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of depression in people with osteoporosis referred to the bone densitometry center of a hospital in Kashan, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 150 people with osteoporosis were selected from among those referred to the bone densitometry center of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan in 2021, who were selected by a systematic sampling method. To collect information, a demographic form and Beck’s depression inventory were used. Data were analyzed in SPSS software using chi-square test and independent t-test. Results: In this study, 86% of people with osteoporosis had depressive symptoms, of whom 42% had severe depression. The prevalence of depressive symptoms in osteoporosis patients with a T score was 37.9%, on average. There was a statistically significant difference in the severity of depression among patients in terms of the family history of depression and the use of psychiatric drugs (P<0.001). Conclusion: The majority of people with osteoporosis in the study center in Kashan have some degree of depression symptoms, which shows the importance of early investigation and treatment of depression in these patients.